Page 231 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

“Kierse…”

“Let me just talk to him.”

“I was afraid you’d say that,” he said, his head bowed. “I’ve lost too much. He’ll kill you before letting you go. I can’t risk it.”

His expression was determined when he looked back up at her. He took her other hand in his. “Tonight we’ll be bound.”

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Kierse tried to yank her hands back, but it was like trying to move a mountain. His power wrapped around her wrists. She couldn’t break through his magic. Not today. Not when he was at his most powerful. Just as Graves had been the night they stole the spear. Lorcan had his robin as a power booster like Graves had his wren. The summer solstice was upon them. Even if she had been at her strongest, she wasn’t sure she’d have been able to get free.

So she needed to try to reach the sensible man he impersonated.

“What happened to letting me make my own decision?”

“You’ve proven susceptible to corruption,” Lorcan said.

“What about having all the time in the world to let me come around?”

His expression didn’t change as he met her gaze. “I would have waited until the end of time, but I will not sit by and let him destroy you the way he did Emilie.”

The doors opened at some unseen command. In walked Niamh in traditional Druid robes. Her burgundy hair long and flowing. Her expression troubled. Behind her came a cadre of Druids in green robes belted at the waist. Declan led the Order into the room, taking up spots inside as if they’d all prepared for this moment. Declan stopped at Lorcan’s side. He sneered at her as if he thought this waswhat she deserved.

“In position, sir,” Declan said, nodding to Lorcan.

“Is she ready?” Niamh asked.

“Yes,” Lorcan said at the same time Kierse said, “No!”

Lorcan dragged Kierse toward the center of the room. “It’s as we thought. He got to her.”

Niamh bit her lip as she and Declan followed them. The swagger was gone from her step, and she looked between Kierse and Lorcan as if she didn’t have a clue in the world what to do.

“Why are you helping him?” Kierse demanded of Niamh. “You told me in Dublin that he wasn’t really in charge. You said he didn’t have power over you. You don’t have to do this.”

Niamh wavered. “He’s in charge here,” she said with a sigh. “And he’s right anyway. I’ve been worried about you.”

“Worrying about me and kidnapping me are sort of different extremes.”

“I know. If we could have done this any other way, we would have,” Niamh promised her.

Niamh removed gold, braided string from her pocket and nodded at Lorcan. He lifted their hands, and Kierse pulled against his magic. She didn’t have any energy. The little she had was like throwing pebbles into the ocean. Little good it did.

“Please don’t,” Kierse whispered.

“I’m sorry,” Niamh said. “I was convinced we wouldn’t have to do this, but Ethan came to us so scared for you.”

Ethan had betrayed her trust, and now they were here. The wound stung. She couldn’t believe he’d done that to her.

“Ethan doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Kiersesaid. “I’m not corrupted or whatever Lorcan is saying.”

“I know how insidious he is,” Niamh said softly. Her eyes cut to Lorcan, who lifted a brow. “Lorcan isn’t all good, but he’s never done anything like Graves. He’d never hurt you.”

“Believe it or not,thishurts me,” she told them, gesturing to their joined hands.

Niamh hesitated. “Lorcan…”

“The ceremony is an honor,” he said. “It’s sacred.”

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